The best Seattle coffee shops for studying

June 20, 2016

It’s pretty obvious from my instagram that coffee is my #1 love and moving to Seattle has only intensified my caffeine addiction. I’m equipped to make my own lattes and coffee at home, so when I purchase a drink from a coffee shop, it’s most likely because I need a change of scenery.

The majority of my time in coffee shops is spent studying. Sometimes, it’s nice to get out of my house or the library and into a space that makes me feel less isolated without feeling pressured to make conversation with strangers. For anyone else who also enjoys getting work done outside of the house, here are a few of my favorite coffee shops in Seattle!

1. Milstead (Fremont)

During finals, I was at Milstead almost every day. While I don’t love the lack of light in their temporary space (their old space is being renovated), the baristas are the nicest people in the city. Sometimes, I’m tempted to apply to work there just so I can become friends with everyone behind the counter. The plethora of outlets, tasty treats, and great coffee are extra bonuses! (Recommended drink: Theo’s mocha or their homemade vanilla bean syrup!)

2. Stone Way Cafe (Wallingford)

Stone Way Cafe has a killer breakfast – their breakfast sandwich is my favorite! They also have a huge space with plenty of available tables for patrons. Natural light floods in through the windows in front, and the high ceilings make the space feel even more open.

3. Fresh Flours (Phinney Ridge)

Holy cannoli, Fresh Flours has some of the best pastries in the city. I have never had trouble finding a table to work at and their space is gorgeous! A lot of families with young children frequent this location, so I always bring my headphones along to drown out the background noise 🙂

4. Fremont Coffee Company (Fremont)

If you’re ever looking for a nice place to study outside, Fremont Coffee Company has you covered! They have a wraparound porch with tons of tables and comfy chairs (but no outlets outside), so it’s the perfect place to go on a sunny day. Their coffee is really good, and their baristas are impressively talented at doing latte art!

5. Seattle Coffee Works (Downtown)

My friend Molly (a Seattle native) boasts that Seattle Coffee Works has some of the best coffee in the city. Their coffee is really good, but I’m not sure I’m ready to commit to it as a favorite yet 😉 However, it’s right across the way from Pike Place Market, so it’s a great place to study for a few hours either before or after a trip to the market!

Runner ups:

Slate Coffee Roasters (they probably have the best coffee in Seattle, but not the best space to stay for a few hours to study)

Elm Coffee Roasters (they probably have the most beautiful space in Seattle, but they don’t have outlets!)

Let’s chat:

Do you like hanging out in coffee shops to do work?

Any places in Seattle that I need to try?

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About Lauren

Lauren Rice, MPH recently graduated from the Coordinated Dietetics Program at the University of Washington. In January 2017, she opened Nutrition Elevated, her anti-diet, #bodypositive nutrition counseling and consulting small business (www.nutrition-elevated.com).

Comments

I need to try Seattle Coffee Works – and all these places. My go-to is Cafe Ladro since they have several locations on the Eastside. Seattle coffee is spoiling – I remember in London how I felt like we could never find coffee as good as in Seattle, even though they had several great places.Be sure to check out Laura @ This Runner’s Recipes’s recent post: Mile Markers: Cautious

Ahhh, I’d love to try all of these! I like that you try different ones…I’m a creature of habit and tend to gravitate to the pastry/coffee place I normally go to, because it’s closest to work and I love the ladies that work there. Now I”m motivated to branch out!!Be sure to check out Jess @hellotofit’s recent post: Simple Peach Berry Cobbler

Hello and welcome!

I'm LAUREN, and I started Just a Pinch in 2014 when I was applying to graduate school to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. In 2017, I started my own small business, Nutrition Elevated, LLC, to help share the breadth of knowledge I learned as a nutrition graduate student at the University of Washington in Seattle!